Occupational Therapists Salary
Occupational Therapists in North Carolina make a median of $92,940 a year, or about $44.68 an hour. The range runs from $62K at the entry level to $118K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.66), which stretches that salary to about $100,302 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,284/month, or 21.4% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across North Carolina. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $93K get you in North Carolina?
About occupational therapists
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What this looks like in North Carolina
Occupational therapists pay in North Carolina tracks closely to the national median, $93K locally vs. $100K nationwide, a 7% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,284/month, 22.1% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.66 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, North Carolina
Entry-level occupational therapists (10th percentile) start around $62K. Mid-career wages sit at $93K. Top earners bring in $118K or more, a $56K spread from bottom to top.
Occupational Therapists salary by metro in North Carolina
15 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greenville | $101K | +9% | 130 |
| Rocky Mount | $101K | +8% | 40 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton | $100K | +8% | 120 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $98K | +6% | 1,140 |
| Greensboro-High Point | $97K | +4% | 270 |
| Winston-Salem | $94K | +1% | 260 |
| Goldsboro | $87K | -7% | 30 |
| Wilmington | $86K | -7% | 260 |
| Jacksonville | $86K | -8% | 40 |
| Raleigh-Cary | $84K | -10% | 680 |
| Asheville | $84K | -10% | 210 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill | $83K | -11% | 390 |
| Burlington | $83K | -11% | 80 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines | $81K | -12% | 50 |
| Fayetteville | $81K | -13% | 200 |
Showing 1–10 of 15 metros
Compare to other states
Track occupational therapists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when North Carolina numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a occupational therapist afford a 2BR apartment alone in North Carolina?
Yes — at the median salary of $93K, rent takes 22.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,284/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for occupational therapists in North Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new occupational therapists typically earn — is $62K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,734/month. At HUD’s $1,284/month FMR, rent would take 34% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is occupational therapist a high-paying job in North Carolina?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $93K locally vs. $100K nationally, a 7% difference.
How does North Carolina compare to the national average for occupational therapists?
North Carolina pays $93K median vs. the U.S. average of $100K — that’s -7%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.66), the purchasing-power equivalent is $100K — below the national median.
How much do occupational therapists make in North Carolina?
The median is $92,940 a year, that works out to about $45 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $62,230, and experienced occupational therapists can clear $118,300. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $93K enough to live in North Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,799/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,284/month, which eats 22.1% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a occupational therapists salary go in North Carolina?
North Carolina has a Regional Price Parity of 92.66 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median occupational therapists salary is worth about $100,302 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do occupational therapists get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.